Double R Racing set for Silverstne

Doub;e R Racing press release

Double R Aiming To Build On Donington Success At Silverstone

Scott Pye

Photo by: Daniel James Smith

Leading Cooper Tires British Formula 3 International Series team Double R Racing is aiming to end the 2011 season on a high at Silverstone Grand Prix Circuit this weekend, 8th/9th October, off the back of its most successful outing of the year at Donington Park a fortnight ago.

Double R achieved its second race victory in as many events at Donington Park with Finnish sensation Valtteri Bottas, the 2011 GP3 Series Champion, proving the capabilities of Double R’s Mercedes-powered Dallaras.

Australian ace Pye, who took his first career F3 victory at Rockingham last month, book-ended his Donington weekend with fourth and fifth place finishes but was robbed of a potential runner-up spot to Bottas in round 26 due to contact and a subsequent retirement.

Derani also enjoyed a strong outing at Donington, taking a season-best second place finish during the horrendously wet final race of the weekend. In addition, the Brazilian achieved a top 10 placing in the first race to boost his chances of a top 15 championship finish in his maiden season.

“Donington was a strong weekend for us, it was great to follow-up Scott’s win at Rockingham with another one at Donington for Valtteri – he showed his class”, said team principal Hieatt, “We know we have a quick car and Scott and Pipo are improving all the time, so we’re confident of a good run this weekend to end the season on a high.”

New Zealander Mitch Evans, a front-running force in the GP3 Series this year, will make his British F3 debut with Double R this weekend and after an impressive run in official testing at Silverstone last week, the 17-year-old is expected to make a big impression in the UK’s premier single-seater series.

Posting the sixth fastest time in the opening session, Evans – who was a consistent front-runner and a race winner in GP3 this year – concluded the day eighth overall on combined times and should be a considerable threat his weekend.

All three Double R drivers finished in the top 10 in the opening run of the test, with Pye eighth and Derani 10th, and those times proved to be their quickest of the day. Overall, the 2010 British Formula Ford champion was 10th with his South American team-mate 13th fastest.

“We’re delighted to have Mitch joining Scott and Pipo this weekend”, added Hieatt, “It’s important to end the year with a flourish and hopefully we can do just that. All three drivers are capable of very strong results at Silverstone – there’s no reason why we shouldn’t see each car in the top 10.”

Following two 50-minute test sessions tomorrow, Friday, 7th October, qualifying and round 28 of the British F3 season will take place on Saturday, 8th October, at 11.25 and 15.10 respectively. Rounds 29 and 30 will follow on Sunday, 9th October, at 10.10 and 16.10.